Future Job Success Tips!

By Wendy Stubbs, MA, NCC

University of South Dakota

 

If you ever take the time to listen to college seniors, they often will have many words to the wise since they have had to learn the hard way! Here are some tips that college seniors have mentioned recently in a college career center!

Words to the wise!

•  “Don't burn any bridges!” This means that sometimes you are tempted to quit a job suddenly without notice or you might want to really tell a colleague off, but by doing so, you might leave a bad impression with an employer who just might tell a future employer. Business owners, executives, administrators, etc. do talk to one another. If you have a bad reputation for leaving jobs suddenly or without notice, your future employment possibilities may be reduced due to your past actions! Hence, make sure you give that needed two weeks notice and do not act foolish upon leaving a job.

•  Make sure you follow the law! High school and college students sometimes may not think ahead when they attend that beer party or use that fake i.d. Yet, those actions can come back to haunt you if you have ever gotten caught. Some employers might require you to get bonded or they run a background check. These embarrassing incidents from your past may then prevent you from obtaining a job or you might have to explain them to a future employer.

•  Be thinking like a professional as you BEGIN your college career. This means get involved in an activity or two, volunteer for a service organization, or work where you will get some meaningful experience. Too often college seniors find themselves with a resume that has no activities or volunteering opportunities and an employer might wonder how that person spent their time in college. Try to obtain that internship before your senior year so you can have some valuable experience that shows you were working toward your profession.

•  Get to know the people in your college career center before your senior year! Students as seniors realize just how much help the Career Counseling people can be as they search for a job and prepare their resumes. Rather than have a “Resume Emergency” at the last minute, plan ahead and become acquainted with your Career Center . As the counseling staff gets to know the students, they are better able to suggest career openings and point out possible career options. The relationship that you build with your Career Counselor will pay off if you allow it to happen!

Wendy Stubbs, MA, NCC is Career Development Specialist at the University of South Dakota 's Career Development Center and creator/owner of http://www.careerscounseling.com .

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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